Old Albanian lay down a marker

The Old Albanian went clear at the top last weekend after Cambridge’s defeat, but they sent out a huge message on Saturday as they ran in eight tries to hammer home their ambition of making an immediate return to National One.

Their victory over Southend keeps the gap at five points between themselves and Cambridge who were also victorious on the weekend.

Bishops Stortford are now starting to put pressure on the top two as their recent good form has given them a chance of potentially sneaking in to the promotion places while Redruth continue their excellent run of results.

Elsewhere, the Old Elthamians jumped above Clifton in the table, Barnes produced an outstanding comeback to save a draw away at Worthing Raiders and Canterbury moved out of the bottom three after a crucial win against relegation rivals the Redingensians.

Old Albanian 62-10 Southend Saxons

The Old Albanian made their title ambitions extremely clear on Saturday as they thrashed Southend Saxons to stay top of National Two South.

The OA’s were almost out of sight by half-time as Johannes Lombaard, Matthew Gallagher and Michael Allan all touched down with the highly rated Max Malins nudging over one conversion and one penalty.

A penalty from Thomas Ashton had kept Southend afloat, but after the break it only got worse for the visitors.

Samuel Lunnon scored a fine hat-trick while James Spiers, Nicholas Foster and Allan again all crossed with Southend’s Mark Billings providing a consolation try on a miserable day for the away side.

Chinnor 19-26 Cambridge

Cambridge continue to chase down the Old Albanian as they remain five points behind the leagues after this hard fought win away at Chinnor.

Ricky Reeves scored the only points in the first period as his smart finish gave the away side a 0-5 half-time lead.

Cambridge then stretched their advantage after the restart as Albert Portsmouth and Matthew Meek both touched down.

Benjamin Manning responded for Chinnor with a try on 56 minutes, but just before the hour, the ‘Blood and Sand, restored their 19 point lead as George Furbank scored.

But the home side replied once again and set-up a nervy finish for Cambridge as George Messum and Jake Olly both crossed in the final 10 minutes, but the second place side held on for victory.

Bishops Stortford 41-10 Dorking

Bishops Stortford beat Dorking to stay in the hunt for a promotion spot in National Two South and they also maintained their 100 per cent record at Silver Leys.

Storford are still seven points behind Cambridge, but they are now unbeaten in their last seven matches and are only behind league leaders the Old Albanian in the form table.

Richard Gill and George Cullen both scored tries for Stortford before the break, while Dorking’s winger Kariym Irvine touched down along with a penalty from Matthew Noble to make it 10-10 at half-time.

But Stortford were far superior in the second half as Nicholas Hankin, Baxter Wilson, Dominic Morris (two) and a Penalty Try secured the bonus point win.

Redruth 22-8 Bury St Edmunds

Redruth made it six wins from their last seven matches as they beat Bury St Edmunds at the Rec on Saturday to stay fifth in National Two South.

The scores were level at 8-8 after the opening period as a try from Matthew Gidlow and a penalty from David Mankee were cancelled out by Samuel Goatley’s score and Scott Lyle’s accuracy from the tee.

The hosts then took control of the second half as Kyle Marriott and Benjamin Priddey both crossed which now means Redruth are just a point behind Taunton in the table.

Clifton 16-20 Old Elthamians

The Old Elthamians ended a run of three straight defeats as they moved ahead of Clifton in the table thanks to a late try from Craig Dowsett.

The OE’s held a 3-10 half-time lead thanks to tries from Lee Nelmes and Thomas Brown, with Clifton’s points coming from the boot of James MacKay.

MacKay reduced the deficit once again from the tee two minutes after the restart before Thomas White restored the OE’s advantage with a penalty of his own.

But Clifton levelled the match up at 13-13 on 56 minutes when Alfie Toola Vaeluaga touched down and they thought they may have won the game when MacKay landed his third penalty of the afternoon with six minutes remaining.

However, there was one last twist in the tale as Dowsett dived over on 76 minutes to clinch victory for the OE’s.

Worthing Raiders 24-24 Barnes

Barnes came back 19 points down to save a draw away at Worthing Raiders to pick up two vital points as they look to keep a safe distance between themselves and the bottom three.

A late try from Matthew Steele snatched the win away from Worthing who had led 17-5 at half-time thanks to scores from Liam Perkins and Elliot Luke and a penalty from Matthew McLean.

The hosts extended their lead further after the restart as they were awarded a Penalty Try, before Barnes began their comeback.

After taking the lead in this match after just six minutes through a Jack Franklin try, the away side looked in the mood again and catapulted themselves back into the contest when Daniel Holmes and Fraser Carlisle both crossed.

With the score now at 24-17 with eight minutes to go, the momentum was with Barnes and they did not relent as Steele completed the fightback for the away side on 79 minutes while Tom O’Toole kept his composure from the tee to convert and seal a dramatic draw.

Canterbury 27-23 Redingensians

Canterbury centre Thomas Best kicked five penalties as the City Men moved out of the relegation zone after this vital win against the Redingensians who have dropped into the bottom three as a result.

In a seesaw first half, Best kicked his first penalty of the afternoon along with a conversion after Harry Sayers’ try to make the score 10-10 at the break with a Tom Vooght try and a Luke Flower penalty providing the points for the Redingensians.

William Ferris crossed for Canterbury immediately after the interval to give them the lead but the away side stayed in touch with their hosts as they responded through a George Drury try.

Best and Flower then exchanged penalties as the game entered its final quarter before Best took the game away from the Redingensians with two kicks which opened up a 27-18 lead with seven minutes to go.

Robbie Stapley touched down on 79 minutes for the Rams, but it was only a consolation as Canterbury held on for back to back victories.

Taunton Titans P-P Launceston

This game between Taunton and Launceston was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch and has been rescheduled for March 12^th.